At Least One Dispatch Consolidation on Horizon

A consolidated dispatch is likely to happen first between and following the determination that one dispatch center for all five of the Pointes is not feasible now.

The ultimate plan among the Pointes is still to have one dispatch/lockup center when it becomes more financially feasible. In the meantime, created to study such changes. 

Grosse Pointe Shores is planning to do away with their dispatch center and is working on an agreement with Grosse Pointe Farms to take over the duties. Shores City Manager Brian Vick told council members Tuesday that the change could happen as early as June 1 and presently officials are waiting for approval from the state on a minor technical detail.

The change will mean that dispatchers will no longer be inside the Shores municipal building and arrestees will be held in the Farms lockup. Officers will still operate out of the Shores municipal building but will transport arrestees to the Farms lockup on Kerby Road, Vick said. The officers will do the processing of the arrestee in the Shores and then transport the prisoner, he said. 

Discussions among all of the Pointes have been ongoing for months and part of the Shores decision to go with the Farms is related to employees. The Farms is able to take two of the Shores dispatchers in the transition.

Farms Public Safety Director Dan Jensen said the employees had to go through interviews before any final employment decisions are being made. The interviews were conducted a few weeks ago and Jensen said they went well. 

A third dispatcher left the Shores earlier this year to go work in the Park's dispatch center.

 Jensen said the consolidation is expected to go smoothly as the officers already work together and officials are planning for the appropriate changes. 

Meanwhile, another consolidation is likely but not some time.

City of Grosse Pointe officials are reviewing offers from the Park, the Farms and the Woods to take over their dispatch services. City Manager Pete Dame said the process of reviewing each offer and determining which best meets the needs of the City will take several months. 

The offers vary and Dame will evaluate each individually by sitting down with each of the other cities, visiting their dispatch centers and working out all of the fine details of having  a shared dispatch, he said. One of the factors is also how to work out an arrangement with City of Grosse Pointe employees, Dame said.